Suction duster



R. D. BUITRAGO.

SUCTION DUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED III/IR. 9, 1921.

Patented July 25, 1922.

ist

UNITED s'm'rs lm .frarrr oFFicE.

RAFAEL DIAZ BUITRAGO, QF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUCTION DUSTER.

T 0 all whom/t may concern Be it .known that I, RAFAEII. DIAZ BUiTRAGo, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of vN ew York and State of New York, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in.Suction Dusters, of which the. following is f a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention is a novel suction duster, especially such a device as is adapted to cleaning furniture, walls,niouldings, and the like, as distinguished from iioors, carpets, etc., and operating by manual power.

-It is an object of the present invention to A Afurther object is to afford a device which' is self-contained and compact, therefore cleanly and always in readiness for use. The herein described embodiment is of extreme lightness in weight, thereby obviating the tiring -of the user, yet is free from need of adjustment or detachment, and is strong anddurable in operation.

vTo the attainment of the above recited objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel suction duster or cleaner"o herein illustrated or described and the novel features of arrangement, combination, structure and detail disclosed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the modeof fitting, handling and operating the device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is ak side elevation of the mechanism detached from the dust bag.

Figure 3 is a central section of the same taken on line of Fig. 4.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the casing cover removed.

The illustrated suction duster is shown as comprising/a box or casingy 7 of cylindrical form and of small size, readily grasped in the hand. At one side is shown an inlet passage 8 at the extremity of which is the inlet mouth or nozzle 9 adapted to be applied iatwise to the surface to be cleaned, it being sometimes sufficient to 'bring this aperture into close proximity to the object Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 9, 1921. Serial No. 450,910.

being cleaned. The suction mouth may be supplemented by a brush 10 extending clear across the width of the mouth.

The inlet passage conducts the stream of alr to the central interior portion of the casing. At a circumferential point, preferably opposite to the inlet, is shown an exit passage 11 to which is connected by screw threads a coupling ring 12 permanently united with a flexible tube or conveyor 13, which opens out into a dust bag or cloth receptacle 14 for the dirt. It is an important part of the present invention that 1t 1s operable by one hand, and for this purpose I have devised lthe following arrangement for maintaining the dust bag away from the surface being cleaned. The spring clip 15, which closesthe rear end of the receptacle or bag, is providedv with a hook or link 16 attachable to a Circlet 17 which is placed over the arm of the user near the elbow.

The cylindrical casing 7 is provided with a removable cover 18 held inv place by screws 19. To assist the firm grasping of the apparatus, the cover is provided with a beaded edge 1.8a under which the fingers rest, and the body of the casing is provided with a lug or projection 2O for the forenger, and an opposite lug 'or projection 21 for the little finger. The thumb rests upon a movable grip piece 22, which may be knurled. The casing may be formed with a circumferential slot at 23, and the motion of the thumb piece when in operation may be in accordance with the double arrow 24, Fig. 4.

lVithin the casing isshown a horizontal partition or wall 25 separating the interior intoa lower or pneumatic chamber 26, and an upper or gear chamber 27. The partition rests upon a shoulder 28 on the inside of the casing and is firmly held from rotation by three small projections 29 engaging nicks in the partition plate. The plate is held downward in place by means of an interior flange or sleeve 3 0 formed integral with the cover 18.

lVhat may be termed the main shaft 33 of the apparatus is centrally located and at its lower end carries a fan and -fl -wheel, later described. The shaft turns tiro-ugh a ball bearing, the upper race 34.- of which is carried upon the shaft, .fwhilev the lower racer fer a centrifugal fan which may posse a series of six blades 38 mounted on and ex.

tending downwardly from the web of the fly-wheel. Preferably the lower edges of the blades are united by means of an annu- 'lar disk 39 brazed to the blades.I

For driving the kfly-wheel and fan at high speed from the thumb piece 22, the following multiplying gearing may be used. The shank 42 of the thumb piece plays in the slot 23. The shank is secured rigidly with a member 43, the body of which is ring shape but ,which is preferably closed at the top so that it is cap shape and constitutes the outer member of the clutch or one-way drive device. The clutch member or cap 43 is provided with a hub 44 mounted on a short vertical shaft 45, which takes its bearing inthe partition 25 and an overhanging bracket 46. The clutch consists of the vring member 43 cooperating with a series of clutch rollers 47 and an interior clutch member 48 having a wedgeI surface 49 for each roller. This device does the work of a pawl and ratchet, affording drive in one direction only as the thumb piece is reciprocated, but the device is silent 4in action and more eiiicient than ordinary pawl and ratchet. The interior clutch member 48 is connected with a gear 50. By this arrangement Whenever the thumb `piece is thrown to the left, in Fig. 4,.this gives the gear 50 a clockwise rotation, but when the thumb piece is returned this causes no operation.

. The driving gear 50 engages with a pinion 51 mounted on the short shaft 52, which takes its bearing in the partition 25 and an overlying bracket or plate 53. Fast on the shaft 52 is also a gear 54-which engages a pinion 55 which is fast on the main shaft 33. This multiplying gearing gives considerable speed of rotation to the fly-wheel and suction fan. It 'is easily operated by the reciprocating movement of the thumb, and delivers a sufliciently powerful current of air to afford the effects already recited. I have thus described what may be termed a one-hand Suction cleaner consisting of a casing small'enough to be grasped within the handl andi-operated by the muscles of the grasping hand, with proper inlet and outlet, and exterior dirt bag. In the preferred form, thereceptacle is suspended from the wearers person, possibly from the shoulder 'or neck but preferably from the forearm or elbow. The means for producing the air flow is operable by the muscles, `for `example a gripping or squeezing action,

but pre erably the'casing 1s rigid and the air flow produced by a mechanism-worked through a reciprocating finger piece or tages will be Vunderstood to those` conversant l with the art. Since many mattersofcombination,farrangement and detail vmay be variously modied without departing from the underlying principles, it is not intended to limit theninvention to such features except -in so far.as set forth in the appended claims. L

`VYhat is claimed is: v t

l. A manually held and operated suction dustercomprising artwo chambered casing adapted to be grasped bythe liand, the suction lchamber containing a suction fan, a shaftcarryin-g the fan and extending into the other `,chamber, multiplying gears in the second chamberadaptedto rotate said shaft, a iy wheel on said shaft, an operating lever extending exterior tothe casing and adaptedto be reciprocated'by the mus'- cles of the hand which grasps the casing, and a device by which the operating lever effects rotation o'f the 'lmultiplying gears, and the shaft fiywheehand suction fan.`

2. A manually held and operated Suction duster comprising' a casing of such small size as to be grasped and held in one hand, an operating lever mounted inside the casing and extending through an opening thereof intoa'position to be contacted and moved back and forth by a fingerof the hand which lgrasps the casing, a suction fan and iywheel within the casing, and multiplying mechanism whereby the operation of said lever effects rapid rotation of said suction fan and flywheel, said casing having a suction opening to be applied to the object to be cleaned, and an outlet for the air and dust.

In testimony whereof, I have aiixed my signature hereto.

RAEAEL DIAZ BUITRAGO. 

